Riggs Memorial Tournament set for Saturday

PITTSBURG — For nine years, Tommy Riggs’ family, friends and community have celebrated his life and love of sports through a memorial golf tournament.

This year’s tournament, is a three man scramble and it is set for Saturday at the Crestwood Country Club.

Registration will begin at 7 a.m. at the club. It is suggested by the organizers to register before the event to ensure a spot in the game. Participants can contact one of the event organizers Corey Williams at 620-249-7131 or Jason Goodson at 620-875-6304.

Player registration cost $85 and team registration costs $255.

The proceeds will go to the Tommy Riggs scholarship memorial fund at Pittsburg State University’s Foundation.

A tournament pre-party will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at Chatters Grill, who has partnered up for the event. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Riggs’ mother, Dorothy Riggs, said her son was always into sports and the tournament was a good way to remember his involvement in sports, his family and the community.

“Has always been into sports,” she said. “He was engaged in school and the community — he was so involved in Pitt State.”

Tommy Riggs was a member of the support staff at PSU athletics for 10 years, until he died unexpectedly at the age of 32.

He oversaw the school’s comprehensive licensing program, handled advertising and corporate sponsorship programs and coordinated special events associated with PSU Athletics. Tommy also assisted with the administration of the PSU Athletics Scholarship and Fund Drive.

Dorothy Riggs said Tommy played a key role in the Carnie Smith Stadium renovation and expansion project and was instrumental in recruiting the Kansas Shrine Bowl to Pittsburg.

Dorothy Riggs said she had always been so surprised how Tommy knew many people in the community by name and how they would know him too.

“At the ball games, he knew everybody’s name,” she said. “I didn’t know he knew so many people’s name.”

His mother said, after his passing, she was amazed at the outreach of love from the community and even outside Pittsburg.

“He received love all the way out in Joplin,” she said. “There was a picture of him on a billboard.”

Dorothy said she remembers her son as making everyone feel special — something she hopes to continue to share. To help preserve these memories she made a scrapbook to give to Tommy’s nephews to help them remember his dedication to family, the community and sports.

“He made everything fun, going to store,McDonald's, he had a unique way to make everyone feel special.

“Lots of people felt like his best friend — people of all ages, he could relate to them all.”

— Stephanie Potter is a staff writer at the Morning Sun. She can be emailed at spotter@morningsun.net or follow her on Twitter @PittStephP and Instagram @stephanie_morningsun.